Lent Around the World (1) – Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Races

Easter (April 8, 2012) is coming very soon. This week March 26 to March 31 we will look into different Lenten Practices Around the World.

Today we will learn about Shrove Tuesday and the Annual Pancake Race.

Pancake Race in Olney, Buckinghamshire on Shrove Tuesday

What is Shrove Tuesday?

The word shrove is the past tense of the﻿ English verb “to shrive”, which means “to obtain absolution for one’s sins by way of confession and doing penance”. During the week before Lent, sometimes called Shrovetide in English, Christians were expected to go to confession in preparation for the penitential season of turning to God. Shrove Tuesday was the last day before the beginning of Lent on Ash Wednesday, and noted in histories dating back to 1000 AD. (Source: WikiAnswers)

Why is Shrove Tuesday also called “Pancake Day”?

Pancakes are associated with the day preceding Lent because they were a way to use up rich foodstuffs such as eggs, milk, and sugar, before the fasting season of the 40 days of Lent. The liturgical fasting emphasized eating plainer food and refraining from food that would give pleasure: In many cultures, this means no meat, dairy, or eggs.

Where in the world is Pancake Day observed?

In the United Kingdom, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, Shrove Tuesday is commonly known as “Pancake Day” or “Pancake Tuesday” due to the tradition of eating pancakes on the day. This tradition comes from a time when any rich foods were eaten on the day before Lent and fasting begins.

Since 1445, a pancake race has been run in the town on many Pancake Days. Tradition records that back in 1445, on Shrove Tuesday the “Shriving Bell” rang out to signal the start of the Shriving church service. On hearing the bell a local housewife, who had been busy cooking pancakes in anticipation of the beginning of Lent, ran to the church, frying pan still in hand, still in her apron and headscarf.

The women of Olney recreate this race (wearing apron and hat/scarf) every Shrove Tuesday (known in some countries as Mardi Gras or Fat Tuesday) by running from the market place to the Church of St. Peter and St. Paul, a distance of about 380 metres. The traditional prize is a kiss from the verger. In modern times, Olney competes with the town of Liberal, Kansas in the United States for the fastest time in either town and winner of the “International Pancake Race”. There is also a children’s race, run by children from the local schools. The children have to run a distance of about 20 metres. This competition has been run every year since 1950.